Occasionally you get to do something that doesn't involve, growl, widdly guitars solos and dude wearing all black. Despite being a metal blog we've never exclusively featured one genre and will happily give any band that fits into the rock/blues/etc. Maybe I should change the name but after 14 years that will lead to confusion.
I'm rambling.
However how wrong I was as no matter how good the performers were the crowd were abysmal, genuinely one of the worst behaved crowd I've ever been a part of. Talking really loudly over the quiet bits, of which there were few as it's all quite dynamic and emotive. There drinking to massive excess and even one next to sarcastically saying aww when a band member was talking about his father passing away.
He was swiftly told where to get off with the acronym G.F.Y by me but he wasn't the only one as it seemed this was a crowd, at least round near the back using the night as an excuse to just get pissed up with some live music in the background, which is disrespectful, not only to the fans that wanted to watch the band but also to the performers themselves. I will also say that it was those in the 45+ category who were the worst culprits.
Back to the music and the night began with the brilliant Nathan O'Regan (8) a man who according to Tom from the headliners, they found in a bar in Northern Ireland, this of course was said with tongue firmly in his cheek, but Nathan took to the stage with his acoustic guitar and light up name box to a warm applause.
Originally from Cork but now living in Belfast, which gives him an accent he said "makes his dad cry." His songs are intimate tales drawn from his life, each one explained to the crowd to tell the story behind them. Be it about becoming a dad or losing a friend, he plays with conviction and sings brilliantly, a voice full of emotion that soars through the venue.
Nathan is a special performer, visibly nervous from playing to the biggest crowd he has ever had, there was a bit of distance from the crowd at first but following a cover of Thunderstruck (which was brilliant) most were on side.
A perfect beginning to the night, setting the vibe just right for what was to come, Nathan O'Regan was hand chosen as the tour opener for these UK dates and gained a lot of new fans in the process.
It was time for the headliners though and Cardinal Black (10) took to the stage like conquering heroes, a rapturous applause but no show boating just the band walking on stage to a home country crowd. Hailing from all over South Wales, the roots of the band were planted in the Tom Hollister Trio many years ago but since then guitarist Chris Buck has been lifting stages with Buck & Evans and showcasing why he may be one of the finest guitarists around today.
In the pandemic years Tom and Chris reconnected musically and this is where Cardinal Black has stemmed from, soulful, rock n roll that takes from gospel music, Americana and the blues, blurring the lines between the USA and their own Welsh heritage.
What in trying to say is that we do get to go to nights that full of joy and light and plenty of soul too. This was one of those nights. After spending the previous evening at an eclectic selection of metal bands with a Halloween theme, heading into Cardiff Student Union felt a bit more civilised a bit more grown up.
However how wrong I was as no matter how good the performers were the crowd were abysmal, genuinely one of the worst behaved crowd I've ever been a part of. Talking really loudly over the quiet bits, of which there were few as it's all quite dynamic and emotive. There drinking to massive excess and even one next to sarcastically saying aww when a band member was talking about his father passing away.
He was swiftly told where to get off with the acronym G.F.Y by me but he wasn't the only one as it seemed this was a crowd, at least round near the back using the night as an excuse to just get pissed up with some live music in the background, which is disrespectful, not only to the fans that wanted to watch the band but also to the performers themselves. I will also say that it was those in the 45+ category who were the worst culprits.
Back to the music and the night began with the brilliant Nathan O'Regan (8) a man who according to Tom from the headliners, they found in a bar in Northern Ireland, this of course was said with tongue firmly in his cheek, but Nathan took to the stage with his acoustic guitar and light up name box to a warm applause.
Originally from Cork but now living in Belfast, which gives him an accent he said "makes his dad cry." His songs are intimate tales drawn from his life, each one explained to the crowd to tell the story behind them. Be it about becoming a dad or losing a friend, he plays with conviction and sings brilliantly, a voice full of emotion that soars through the venue.
Nathan is a special performer, visibly nervous from playing to the biggest crowd he has ever had, there was a bit of distance from the crowd at first but following a cover of Thunderstruck (which was brilliant) most were on side.
A perfect beginning to the night, setting the vibe just right for what was to come, Nathan O'Regan was hand chosen as the tour opener for these UK dates and gained a lot of new fans in the process.
It was time for the headliners though and Cardinal Black (10) took to the stage like conquering heroes, a rapturous applause but no show boating just the band walking on stage to a home country crowd. Hailing from all over South Wales, the roots of the band were planted in the Tom Hollister Trio many years ago but since then guitarist Chris Buck has been lifting stages with Buck & Evans and showcasing why he may be one of the finest guitarists around today.
In the pandemic years Tom and Chris reconnected musically and this is where Cardinal Black has stemmed from, soulful, rock n roll that takes from gospel music, Americana and the blues, blurring the lines between the USA and their own Welsh heritage.
Having just been on a month long American tour, this Cardiff show was the culmination of their UK run of dates, giving them some time at home. They said they were there to have fun and the banter between Tom and the other members of the band, especially Chris was warm and light hearted even going as far as embarrassing his wife in front of everyone, which I'm sure he received a tongue lashing for.
Splitting their set between their debut January Came Close and their new record Midnight At The Valencia, they played with dynamics throughout loading the pacier numbers such as Ride Home, Keep On Running and Terra Firma at the at the beginning of the set so they can have and emotional in the middle, creating those peaks and troughs of build and release.
Many of these songs also run longer live than they do on record, which I always expected as there's plenty of call and response in the choruses, making the Welsh crowd work for it while Chris Buck gets multiple chances to show off his dexterous guitar playing that comes from his very soul, he plays with the same sort of style as say David Gilmour, making one note do the emotional leg work of twenty.
It's not just him though as drummer Adam Roberts gets a chance to shine with his pitch perfect drum solo section that again works on skill over power, while the Hammond organs also get a few sections to shine too. On top of this glorious euphoria are the brilliant vocals of Tom Hollister, engrained with a soul far beyond his years, he has voice that is sonorous and soulful, dragging up every emotion for Adeline, Your Spark (Blows Me To Pieces) and Push/Pull.
I was captivated lost in the music, many others were too, embracing the band for what they are rather than what they perhaps expected. The addition of Nathan O'Regan to Morning Light a welcome treat, as if we'd been welcomed into a studio jam between the players.
Cardinal Black have the ability to make a stage of any size feel intimate, creating a familial atmosphere that was at it's strongest on home turf. Watching them is an experience, rather than a concert, while some didn't feel the same way, most of the sold out crowd in Cardiff were lost in this bands incredible music. "The oldest new band" made magic on a storm ridden night in Cardiff.
Cardinal Black have the ability to make a stage of any size feel intimate, creating a familial atmosphere that was at it's strongest on home turf. Watching them is an experience, rather than a concert, while some didn't feel the same way, most of the sold out crowd in Cardiff were lost in this bands incredible music. "The oldest new band" made magic on a storm ridden night in Cardiff.
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